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“The Living Room Sessions,” the debut EP from Scranton indie/pop outfit No West, finds a band with remarkable potential as songwriters and performers, where heartfelt vocals meet layered guitars and sometimes complex drums.

Like many young bands, much of the material is inspired by love and feelings, but No West smartly avoids the trap of falling into worn-out emo clichés. Part of that is because of direct, plainly delivered vocals.

“A Tale of Him and Her” is a relatively epic, driving track, with some fancy drum work. “Snowy Roads and Midnight” has mainstream radio potential.

The best tracks, though, are the last two, “Hope To Sleep (White Car)” and “Scene Fitting Snowfall.” “Hope To Sleep” opens with squiggly synths and people talking in the background, setting up a feeling of disconnect. Its melding of quirky sounds with pop songwriting is reminiscent of The Southland, an underappreciated band out of Los Angeles. The drums are simple, the vocals are textured and the guitars are understated (more on that later). “Scene” builds from simple guitar, synths and simple, emotive vocals. The track may sound cinematic and complex, but it is more layered than it is complicated. It’s a tactic used successfully by bands like Coldplay and Snow Patrol, so No West is in good company here.

If there is anything negative to say about “The Living Room Sessions,” it is minor. Namely, the guitar work is at its best when it’s simple. When there are forays into fancy fretwork, it doesn’t fit the song; it can sound a bit like Joe Satriani sitting in with Thriving Ivory, and no one wants that. Also, the snare drum is cranked a little too tight in spots, which is fine on a 311 album, but not here.

All small kinks that will be worked out as the band progresses and works with a producer — “The Living Room Sessions” was self-produced.

As satisfying as these six tracks are, they can’t help but make you look forward to grander things for No West, already a band with a penchant for the epic.
 

About the Author

Education
Penn State University, University Park
Bachelors degree: Journalism, English minor
Saint Joseph's University, Philadelphia
Masters of arts degree: Writing studies
Manchester University, Manchester, England
Communications

Selected Publications
The Weekender, LexisNexis Securities Litigation, ESPN.com, The Associated Press, Philadelphia Daily News, Philly Edge, Universitywire.com, The Daily Collegian

From
Pittston

Resides
Scranton

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